The Albert Einstein Approach to Successful Blogging
I guess it is debatable if bringing together a Nobel Prize winning scientist and blogging success will teach you anything, but if you bear with me I hope to demonstrate that it is indeed possible. In particular because it also demonstrates how what I refer to as circular communication can work by bringing together the purpose and its premise. The starting point and the conclusion are thus identical in the sense that what it sets out to do is achieved by actually doing it. Inspired by 5 Keys to Einstein’s Curiosity and Accomplishments by Dr. Ellen Weber and her question: “What’s your quest and how will curiosity guide new accomplishments today?” am I thus seeking to apply the very traits that I am writing about.
Let us look at the 5 traits Albert Einstein used to transform problems into possibilities and how they relate to blogging success:
1. Persistence and stubborn tenacity were tools of change for Einstein.
Every established blogger certainly will recognize the importance of these traits and new bloggers will do well keeping them in mind. You can base everything you do on plain luck, but don’t be surprised if nothing comes from it. Einstein put it this way: “I think and think for months and years. Ninety-nine times, the conclusion is false. The hundredth time I am right.” Naturally you cannot base your blogging endeavor on this trait alone, but without it how will you get where you want to go, let alone come to a conclusion about where you want to go to begin with? Moreover did Einstein not stop thinking once he was right. He kept adding to the equation or changed the direction so that he could keep going, which is the real accomplishment.
2. Einstein connected and applied things in ways others had not tried.
This is probably harder to do today as it was when Einstein lived as everything seems to exist in masses and combinations that makes it hard to find something which isn’t already done before. However there are also much more which can be combined when blogging as within science and no one says it has to be radical differences on a basic level. It can also be slight differences on a more detailed level such as this combination of Einstein and blogging, which I believe haven’t been done before. Thinking outside the box is so to speak the only way out of the box. Untried connections and applications may thus be the only way to avoid simply repeating and rehashing what already have been done and said.
3. Rather than one emphasis only, Einstein cultivated many intelligences.
When we think of intelligence we tend to focus on Mathematical-logical intelligence. This is certainly an important aspect of intelligence, but of very limited use when not combined with other aspects. Imagine that Einstein only used this kind of intelligence. How would he have communicated his thoughts? How would he have been able to exchange ideas with others? How would he have built his models and mechanical devices? You need not necessarily bring every aspect of intelligence into everything you do, but the more you bring in and the more you cultivate and combine them the bigger the benefit. Read more about Drawing Brainpower From Multiple Intelligences and try contemplating how you can use more intelligences when blogging.
4. Imagination and fun added zip to most everything Einstein did.
Fun describes the enjoyment we receive and is, or certainly should be, a key element in blogging. When we do things for others we may not always be able to bring fun into it, which makes it even more important not to forget having fun when doing something for yourself. Furthermore is fun not just about enjoyment, but is also a key component to our experience of writing, reading and conversing. Regarding the importance of imagination Einstein remarks: “When I examine myself and my methods of thought, I come close to the conclusion that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than my talent for absorbing positive knowledge.” Having even the vastest amount of knowledge will in itself bring you nowhere. Without imagination you cannot imagine what you can accomplish nor how to do it.
5. Questions tracked Einstein’s day like maps guide a traveler.
Being curious and asking questions is not only vital when it comes to learning, but is also about guidance. You have to continuously question your knowledge, what it is good for and where it can take you. If you keep asking yourself questions concerning everything you know (and don’t know) as well as what you think about writing or doing then you can save yourself a lot of work and grief. A good technique is asking Two-footed Questions where you for example not only ask what you could blog about, but also how it would enrich you and your readers. To serve as a guide your questions have to uncover at least things: Where you are, where you are going and not least how you can get there.
Speaking of curiosity, combining things in a new way and continuously asking questions this is a quote on Einstein’s view on success: “If A equals success, then the formula is A equals X plus Y plus Z. X is work. Y is play. Z is keep your mouth shut.” Obviously this relates to work within an organization considerable time ago and will have to be rewritten to make sense in my proposed setting. What do you think about: “If A equals blogging success, then the formula is A equals X plus Y plus Z. X is persistence. Y is imagination. Z is asking guiding questions based on your curiosity.”, and how could you imagine using this formula on your quest towards blogging success?
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10 Responses to “The Albert Einstein Approach to Successful Blogging”
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What an inspirational blog - I alike how you linked Einstein’s wisdom to our guiding questions rooted in curiosity! This one is a keeper and I was so glad to discover your site.
Love your creative equations! Now that’s Einsteinian… Thanks.
Oh, I enjoyed this post! I love it when writers use historical figures to illustrate tech concepts, and this Einstein + Blogging post is absolutely perfect!
Great stuff, I have to particularly agree with the part about being curious and asking questions - once we stop doing that we become very dull people indeed
Einstein and blogging. What a connection and what a topic. Nice read. I think number two is key.
Great!
My website, ingeniousity.net, is all about creativity and finding connections between things to generate new ideas. So an article like this one is a perfect example.
Once you start looking, there are all sorts of weird connections out there, and when it’s finished I’ll send you link to my article connecting Leonardo DaVinci, improvised comedy, and chinese philosophy as exemplified by Taiji.
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